Distributor for liquids



March 9 R. H. VAN cHAAcK, JR 1,991,431

DISTRIBUTOR FOR LIQUIDS Filed Feb. 25, 1929 W/ 7/1/55555. //W/v 70R WKM Mun/MM} Patented Mar. 14, I

UNITED "STATES" PATENT OFFICE :eonnnr 3.17111 senacx, 1a., or nvms'ron, rumors, ABSIGNOR ro van 80mm.

BROS. cannon. woaxs, mcmr cmcneo, rumors, a conrona'rron or rumors DISTRIBUTOR FOB LIQUIDS Application fled February 25, 1929- Serial No. 342,859.

rises and through which it flows out. With a multiplicity'of notches, it is possible to divide a liquid into as many separate streams as there are notches through which it flows. It is possible also to calculate the amount of liquid flowing through each notch by a formula involving a number of factors including the angle of the notch, the height at which the water stands. abovethe level of the bottom of the notch, the rate of approach of the liquid to the notch, and the viscosity of the liquid.

In many manufacturing operations, it is desired simply to know andto have means of determining the relative volumes of two or more streams of liquid. In fractional distillation, such a casearises frequently.

Thus, when a portion of the condensate is' returned to the fractionation column as reflux, it is important to be able to control the ratio of reflux to total condensate. It is often desired to return as refiux 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 parts, for example, of the condensate to each 1 part of condensate accepted as fractionated product. This separation of condensate into reflux and product, in a predetermined ratio, is an example of one use of the mechanism that constitutes my invention.

An embodiment of my invention is based on the rinciple of providing a plurality of holes 0? equal size, allowing liquid at equal head to flow through these holes, and collecting the eflluent from a certain fraction of the total number of holes in one receptacle or pipe and the efiluent from the remaining fraction in another receptacle or in other receptacles.

Details of this example of the invention are shown in Fins. 1. 2. and 3. Figure 1 is .other discharge pipe (12).

pipes (5) over one-compartment (7) vessel a vertical section through the center line of the entire distributor. Figure 2 isa horizontal cross-section "along the line 0-11, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a horizontal crosssection of the distributor along the line 12-12, Figure 1. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views. There is provided a metal vessel (1) with an inlet for liquid (2), an air vent (3), and an inner vessel or member (4.) which receives'the liquid from the inlet (2) and allows the liquid to flow through a series of upright pipes (5) with holes (6) of equal size, number, and elevation in each pipe, into a vessel (24), with sight glasses (8). This vessel (24) is divided by adiametrical partition (9) into two compartments (7) and 10) from one of which leads a discharge pipe (11) and from the other, an-

The pipes (5) are suitably arranged in an arc of 180. The inner vessel (4) carrying th'e'pipes (5) is attached to a shaft (13) which passes through a stufiing box (14) to a handle (15) by means of which the inner assembly carrying the pipes (5) may be rotated through approximately 180. The handle (15) carries a plunger (16) which ma be engaged in any one of thestops (17 The liquid falling to one side of the dia metrical partition (9 in the vessel (24) passes to a discharge plpe (11) and the liquid falling on the other side of the partition goes to another discharge pipe (12 Theproportion of the total number 0 upright pipes (5) delivering to either discharge pi e may be adjusted by moving the handle F15) in such manner as to rotate the inner assembly and bring the desired number of upright (24) and the remainder of the pipes over the other. compartment- (10). Once this rotation has been made, 3 the handle plunger (16) is engaged in one of the stops (17) in order to avoid further accidental rotation. When liquid is flowing, one may count, through the sight glasses (8), the number of streams of liquid delivered to each discharge ipe although the ratio ,of distribution is l aest observed bv noting the setting 1 9 be understood from the drawings and the.

1y on the liquid.

of the handle (15) which controls the rotationbf the. inner vessel. If it is desired also wrest-16mm the actual volumn of total liquid flowing, this may be done b measuring the level of liquid in the inner c amber (4) and comparing this level or head with a previously determined calibration chart showing the rate of flow for various heights of 'head. The measurement of elevation of head of liquid may be made by means of a float (18) movable along a vertical guide rod (19), attached to a light flexible cable or cord (20) which passes over a pulley (21) to a counterbalance of light metal (22). The position of the lower end of the counterbalance (22) may be read against a scale (23) to show the height of li uid above the bottom of the inner vessel. The weight of the counterbalance and accessories should be just slightly less than that of the float, in order that the float may always rest light- The method of use of the apparatus will description. Liquid enters through the inlet, and then flows through holes in the series of upright pipes. The hquid rises, of necessity, to the same height on each member of this series of tubes. If the. lowest hole in each of the series of tubes does not'allow the escape of liquid as fast as liquid is being delivered through the inlet, the liquid level will rise until there is flow also through additional holes at ahigher elevation on the tubes.

When the holes at a given elevation are of the same diameter on all the series ofvup- I right pipes, each pipe delivers approximately the same quantit of liquid to the lower compartment. Wi a series of 10 upright pipes, it is possible, therefore, to deliver into either half of. the-lower compartment 10%,

or 100% of the liquid entering through the inlet pipe.

Many variations may 0e made from the details given in the illustrative example above, without. departing from'the spirit of my invention.

Thus, I may use any number of u right tubes. In general, the larger the num r of tubes, the smallar the variations that may be made in the ratio of distribution of liquid.

' Thus, with 20 tubes, of equal number, size,

and elevation of holes, it is possible to vary the division of a liquid by steps of 5% each. Thus, the percentage of total liquid delivered to a given receptacle or compartment will be 5% of'the total, if only" one tube is delivering into that compartment, and will be 5% addition for each additional tube so delivering. If only 3 tubes are used, on the other hand, the distribution may be varied only in steps of- 33.3% each. Thus agiven receptacle'may receive 33.3%, 66.6%, or

100.0% of the total liqui arranged in a setting difl'erent The size of the tubes, diameter, and/or may be om that shown. Thus, they ma be set in an are greater than 180, in w ich case the vessel carrying the tubes and the accessories Inaiybe so constructed that rotation may be ma e through approximately an e ual angle.

height may be varied. Also the While I have described t e rotation of the member that carries the tubes, I may keep the tubes stationary and rotate a re ceptacle, beneath the discharge of the tubes.

or otherwise move the receptacle, as, for 'example, to one side, in such a way as to vary the number of streams of liquid collected in a given receptacle or compartment. In-

equalities in sizes of holes in the different .pipes at any one elevation com llcate the ca c istribution and are preferably avoide On the other ulation .of ratio of ii uid hand, variations in the sizes of holes in any one pipe do not complicate-the calculation,

so long as the holes in'all ipes, at e ual elevations, are substantiall e same. T us I find .quite satisfactor t e use of a small hole (25), Figs. 1 an 2, say of diameter one-fourth that of the pipe, at the base of each pipe, then a vertical series of holes a 7 each half the diameter of the pipe, and,

finally, the 0 en end of the pipe itself as the top hole. The small hole mentioned above may be drilled either in the base of the tube itself, or, adjacent to the base of the 'tube, verticall through the late which carries the tube. he latter met od ensures complete drainage of the vessel at the conclusion ofthat any number of them will deliver liquid to one receptacle and the remainingv tubles will deliver liquid to another receptac e. 4

' 2. A distributor for liquids comprising a plurality of upright tubes which may be' so placed by rotation of the vessel containing them that any number of them will deliver liquid to one receptacle and the remaining other receptacle.

3. An adjustable distributor for liquids capable of controlled variability in the ratio of the distributed streams, said distributor comprising an inlet for h uid and a lurality of upright tubes in a of which t ere are open lower ends and side holes of sizes .that are the same at equal elevations, said. tubes being set in a rotatable vessel thattubes will deliver liquid to anhas no substantial outlet near its A except for the holes in the tubes which pass throu h the bottom.

4., distributor for H uids comprising a number of upright 1 per orated plpes, ar-

- ranged in an are a circle, and provided with a mechanism for rotation in such manner as toallow liquid discharged from any u', number of the pipes to pass mto' a given receptacle.

5. A distributor for liquids comprising a, series of upright pipes containing each a' number of lateral holes, the lowest of which are completely submerged during use, and

also receptacles for receiving the liquid which flows' outsof the lower ends 0i any selected number of the tubes, the upright tubes being set in a carriage which ma be shifted with respect to the position 0 receptacles placed below the outlet of the tubes so as to change the ratio of the streams delivered.

6. A distributor for liquids comprising a series of u right pipes cchitaining each a number of ateralholes, the lowest of which are completel submerged during use, and also receptaces for receiving the liquid which flows out of the lower ends of any selected number of the tubes, the upright tubes being setin a carriage which may be shifted, by rotation, with respect to the position of receptacles placed below the outlet of the tubes.

7 A distributor for liquids comprising an apportioning vessel havmg a plurality of umform-discharge devices, opening into a 1 distributing vessel having two compartments arranged to deliver the liquid to difierent places, said apportioning and distributing v vessels being displaceable relative to one another so as to vary the number of discharge devices 0' ening into each compartment of the distri uting vessel, said displaceability being such that the number of discharge devices opening into'either compartment may be varied from none to the total number. ROBERT H. VAN SCHAACK, JR. 

